EUNICE Incubator

Welcome to the EUNICE Living Lab Hub – Incubator Program

As part of the EUNICE European University Alliance, the Living Lab Hub – Incubator Program brings together ten partner universities across Europe in a common mission: to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, start-ups, and cross-border collaboration. The University of Catania leads Task 4.5 of this initiative, working hand in hand with the nine other EUNICE partners to build a truly European incubator and innovation ecosystem.

Our vision

At EUNICE we believe in customised education, interdisciplinarity and deep links with society and industry.
The Living Lab Hub – Incubator Program turns this vision into reality by providing students, researchers, and early-stage ventures across the alliance with the support, infrastructure, and networks they need to turn ideas into impact.

Two core fields of activity

Previously known as the EUNICE Imagine Innovation Cup, the EUNICE4U Start Cup is the flagship entrepreneurial competition of the alliance. Each of the ten partner universities organises a Local Phase, in which student teams and early-stage ventures pitch their ideas. The winning teams from each local phase then compete in a final pan-European edition, hosted each year by the university that won the previous edition.

  • June 2024 – Santander (Universidad de Cantabria)
  • April 2025 – Vaasa (University of Vaasa)
  • 2026 – Poznań (Poznań University of Technology)

Through this competition, EUNICE promotes entrepreneurial skills, intercultural collaboration, and the creation of innovative business ideas that can thrive in a European context.

Our incubator combines virtual and physical resources across all partner universities and supports entrepreneurship through six interconnected phases:

a) Support for start-ups – from ideation to market validation.
b) Physical spaces & infrastructure – access to coworking hubs, innovation labs, and maker spaces within the EUNICE network.
c) Training & consultancy – workshops and expert sessions on business modelling, legal frameworks, and innovation management.
d) Access to investors & funding – connections to venture capital, business angels, and European funding opportunities.
e) Networking & contacts – a Europe-wide community of innovators, mentors, and stakeholders.
f) Mentorship & coaching – one-to-one guidance from experienced academics and industry professionals.

This dual structure—virtual and physical—ensures accessibility and collaboration across all EUNICE campuses, while the Hub in Catania serves as the central node for coordination and development.

Why join the EUNICE Living Lab Hub – Incubator Program?

  • Gain access to a pan-European innovation ecosystem connecting ten universities.
  • Benefit from hybrid infrastructure — digital platforms and physical labs across Europe (see EUNICE JOL-Joint Open Lab).
  • Participate in flagship events such as the Start Cup, Hackathon, and Start Up Weekend.
  • Receive structured, multi-stage support covering all dimensions of start-up growth.
  • Join a diverse and interdisciplinary community committed to sustainable innovation.

Join the innovation movement

Whether you are developing a new idea, forming a cross-border team, or seeking mentorship and funding, the EUNICE Living Lab Hub – Incubator Program is your gateway to European-scale entrepreneurship. Together we are shaping the future of innovation across the continent.

Welcome to EUNICE. Welcome to the European innovation ecosystem.

Recent & Upcoming Highlights

On Thursday, 3 July 2025, a Tech Hackathon has been held at the University of Catania, in collaboration with Etna Digital Growth, a leading Catania-based digital solutions company. The event, with participating the E_ELABbers from the first edition of the E-ELAB (EUNICE Entrepreneurship Laboratory) brought together multidisciplinary teams from across Europe for an innovation sprint focused on technology and sustainability.

A Start Up Weekend is planned for late 2026 – 2027, offering an immersive environment where aspiring entrepreneurs will build prototypes, receive mentoring, and pitch to investors.

The Living Lab Hub – Incubator Program is coordinated by the University of Catania and implemented with the nine partner universities of the EUNICE European University Alliance:

  • Poznań University of Technology (Poland)
  • Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus–Senftenberg (Germany)
  • University of Cantabria (Spain)
  • Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France (France)
  • University of Mons (Belgium)
  • University of Vaasa (Finland)
  • Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (Portugal)
  • University of the Peloponnese (Greece)
  • University of Catania (Italy) – Task 4.5 of Work Package 4 Lead

The Living Lab Hub – Incubator Program is coordinated by the University of Catania and implemented with the nine partner universities of the EUNICE European University Alliance:

  • Etna Digital Growth – Hackathon 2025